"Starbucks Manga or McDonald's Manga": Former 'Dragon Ball' Editor Fears the Decline of Originality in the Manga Industry

"Starbucks manga or McDonald's manga": Former 'Dragon Ball' Editor Fears the Decline of Originality in the Manga Industry

Seriously, when Kazuhiko Torishima, the OG editor of Dragon Ball Z, speaks, he manga world should probably shut up and listen. We mean, this is the guy who helped bring Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball to life, shaped Weekly Shonen Jump during its most iconic years, and saw manga evolve from this quirky kids’ entertainment to an international sensation. But now? Torishima’s not clapping. He’s calling it out. Loud and clear. At Japan Expo 2025, he unlea…

Former Dragon Ball Editor Says Japanese Manga Has Lost Its Unique Identity - Animehunch

Kazuhiko Torishima, the former editor for the iconic Dragon Ball manga, stated that the Japanese manga industry has lost its unique artistic identity, leading to a “bleak” future for the medium. Speaking at a press conference at Japan Expo on July 4, 2025, Torishima argued that one of the reasons for this loss of identity is the industry’s move to digital platforms. He noted that these platforms rely on algorithms to suggest similar manga to rea…